oonlight。”

“Why？”

“Because　I　want　to　read　your　countenance—turn！”

“There！　you　will　find　it　scarcely　more　legible　than　a　crumpled；　scratched　page。　Read　on：　only　make　haste；　for　I　suffer。”

His　face　was　very　much　agitated　and　very　much　flushed；　and　there　were　strong　workings　in　the　features；　and　strange　gleams　in　the　eyes

“Oh；　Jane；　you　torture　me！”　he　exclaimed。　“With　that　searching　and　yet　faithful　and　generous　look；　you　torture　me！”

“How　can　I　do　that？　If　you　are　true；　and　your　offer　real；　my　only　feelings　to　you　must　be　gratitude　and　devotion—they　cannot　torture。”

“Gratitude！”　he　ejaculated；　and　added　wildly—“Jane　accept　me　quickly。　Say；　Edward—give　me　my　name—Edward—I　will　marry　you。”

“Are　you　in　earnest？　Do　you　truly　love　me？　Do　you　sincerely　wish　me　to　be　your　wife？”

“I　do；　and　if　an　oath　is　necessary　to　satisfy　you；　I　swear　it。”

“Then；　sir；　I　will　marry　you。”

“Edward—my　little　wife！”

“Dear　Edward！”

“e　to　me—e　to　me　entirely　now；”　said　he；　and　added；　in　his　deepest　tone；　speaking　in　my　ear　as　his　cheek　was　laid　on　mine；　“Make　my　happiness—I　will　make　yours。”

“God　pardon　me！”　he　subjoined　ere　long；　“and　man　meddle　not　with　me：　I　have　her；　and　will　hold　her。”

“There　is　no　one　to　meddle；　sir。　I　have　no　kindred　to　interfere。”

“No—that　is　the　best　of　it；”　he　said。　And　if　I　had　loved　him　less　I　should　have　thought　his　accent　and　look　of　exultation　savage；　but；　sitting